Dees: A Biblical response to the election

Statistics show that 60 percent of church-goers voted for Mitt Romney on Tuesday. I am not sure how that number compares to people who read the religion section of The Covington News, but I would guess those numbers are similar. With that said, I would guess that three out of five of you who are reading this article were not pleased with this week's presidential election. Allow me in a few minutes to offer you some biblical wisdom on how any Christian should respond to Tuesday's events:

• Support the Winner - While I know many of you may disagree with President Obama or any number of candidates who were elected on Tuesday that is no excuse for disrespect. The Bible tells us in Romans 13:1, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." The Bible tells us that governing authorities are "God's servant for [our] good." This does not mean that we should not speak our minds, or hold strong to our convictions. That is one of the great things about being an American. We are allowed to have different opinions, and we can engage with one another on what truth really is. But as Christians, we should engage with one another from a spirit of humility, love and respect. I have been amazed at how many professing Christians I have seen say incredibly derogatory things toward the president of the U.S. one minute, and then correct their children for being disrespectful the next. Let us all practice what we preach.

• Be Thankful - Even if your candidate lost on Tuesday, you should still be thankful that you live in the greatest country in the history of the world. Next time you think to yourself, "America is getting so bad," I encourage you to travel and to go see what life is like outside of this great land. Let me remind you what America is: America is the place where people will leave their home, say goodbye to all they love, then crawl through a rat infested tube filled with waste to sneak into this country. They will then find a job where for a few dollars an hour they are hired to dig ditches, or pick up trash for 10 and sometimes 12 hours a day, six days a week, all while living in a shabby one bedroom apartment with seven other men. They will live this way because that life is so much better than a life from where they came. That is the country that you were blessed by God's sovereign hand to call home.

• Remember that Christ is still on his Throne - Barack Obama is, and Lord willing, will be the most powerful man on earth for the next four years. I hope that every Christian in this country would pray for him, and respect him even if you disagree with him. But remember, the president's power is very fleeting and temporal. I am reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah 40:15, "Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales." Jesus said, as he was commissioning his church, "all authority is mine." So whoever may be president in this young country, let us remember that there is only one eternal king and his name is Jesus. He is our only hope, and he is the one true leader of his people.

So whether your candidate won or lost on Tuesday let the church be a people who supports and respects our officials. Let us be a grateful people for the most wonderful place to call home in this life. Most of all, let us always remember that Christ is king.

Jason Dees is a grateful follower of Jesus Christ, the husband of Paige and the father of Emery Anna. He is also the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington.